Samuel & Julien LANG 

Samuel Lang’s 3 hectares of vineyards are situated in the charming village of Laconnex. There, he grows Premier Cru Chasselas, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc for Philippe Chevrier’s wines, as well as Viognier. As for red grape varieties, he grows Gamay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Jura and Marselan – a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache that only two winegrowers produce in Geneva. Samuel runs a farm that also includes arable crops and some fruit growing.

Samuel Lang: A Life Well Lived

This winegrower is a man full of surprises. Indeed, he has divided his life between development aid and his agricultural and wine-growing estate. Samuel is one of those people who give us the gentle impression of having lived several lives in one. After an apprenticeship as an electrical mechanic, he went on to attend the agricultural college in Cernier and then the ESA in Zollikofen. He subsequently worked as an ETS engineer at the Grange-Verney agricultural college in Moudon. He then set off to work on development projects in Africa, accompanied by his wife and children, spending six and a half years in Ethiopia and Cameroon. Upon his return in 1984, he took over the family estate with his father, whilst working on a freelance basis for agencies in Europe, continuing to develop projects in Central Africa and China.

Samuel has always been particularly committed, especially during difficult times, such as in 1992, during the transition from Vin Union to La Cave de Genève. He served on La Cave’s board of directors for 22 years, stepping down two years ago. He knows the history of La Cave de Genève inside out – the dark periods and the moments of intense joy – and he hopes that it will never be forgotten.

“Thanks to my father, I’m incredibly open to new things.”

Professionally, this winegrower is passionate, wholeheartedly committed and at one with the vines; he describes himself as somewhat reserved but always open to change and new ideas. He owes this open-mindedness to his father, who was the first to introduce maize, peas and field beans to Geneva. The proof? They were the first winegrowers to introduce Chardonnay to Laconnex. And when Samuel transformed his vineyard, switching from growing Gamay and Chasselas to high-value grape varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, nobody really believed it would work. Yet today, he is one of the suppliers of top-quality grapes not only to La Cave de Genève, but also to Philippe Chevrier’s wines. As you can see, Samuel likes to take risks.

For him, being humble in the presence of plants, being attuned to the climate, the soil and the wine industry are the essential qualities required to be a good winemaker.

Like a waltz in four-four time…

Samuel’s father would always tell him, almost poetically, that work in the vineyard was marked by four distinct seasons. The season of dreams, winter, during which the winegrower has the chance to reflect and plan. The season of hope, spring, when you can watch the first buds begin to appear. Summer, the season of labour, when the vineyard must be tended. And finally, the season of reward, when the grape harvest arrives.

Samuel’s son has inherited his father’s and grandfather’s philosophy, as is evident from this lovely quote: “The vine is a demanding mistress; she loves the tenderness and the shade of the winegrower.”

Samuel’s favourites

He describes La Cave de Genève as a family, as the brainchild of 50 winegrowers, but also as a real source of hope for their sons and daughters. For him, there’s no doubt about it: it’s La Cave’s Cabernet Franc that really gets him excited. As for white wine, he tells us he particularly enjoys the La Feuillée premier cru, a refreshing and typical Chasselas that he produces with his friend Georges Thévenoz and his son, who are winemakers in Soral.